Oh, Bob McNair. Say you didn't mean it. Tell us they misquoted you, or took your words out of context.

Give us something, Bob. Give us a reason to believe. Tell us those words don't reflect what's in your heart. We want to stick with you, Bob. We know what kind of man you are. We love your decency and charitable heart.

We also know you're the reason there's an NFL franchise in Houston, and for that, we'll be forever grateful. Even a lousy team is better than no team, and we'll never forget you're the guy that got us back in the game.

It's just that we're tired of losing, Bob. I'm not talking about me, either. I'm talking about the people who have bought every ticket for nine years. They're angry, Bob.

And frustrated. And they're not mad at Gary Kubiak or defensive coordinator Frank Bush or any of the usual scapegoats. They're mad at you, Bob. They read what you said about the Texans being on the right track, and they think you're off yours.

They wonder if you care about winning. They wonder why you don't seem to care as much as they care. They think maybe you've grown so close to this coaching staff and this general manager that you can't evaluate them critically.

They hear you brag that the other NFL owners told you they're impressed with the Texans, and they're flabbergasted. How could you fall for that one, Bob? Of course they like you, Bob. You've been their punching bag for nine seasons.

Here's some advice, Bob. Next time you're at an owners meeting, go ask those guys what they think of Bill Belichick. Here's a clue: They don't much care for him. They think he's an underhanded jerk and that he'll do pretty much anything to win.

It's a competitive sport, Bob. It's about beating the other guy. Sure, it's a partnership on many levels, but the bottom line is that for the people who buy your tickets and fill up your stadium, winning is the only thing that matters.

Poor timing

And here's something else, Bob. Even if you're thrilled that the other owners like you and even if you think the Texans are on the right track, you're not supposed to say so.

Not during a week like this when the Texans have lost again, when they looked inept for a half before making a game of it. To your fans, a loss is a loss is a loss. Close is no good.

You seem to like close. You've bragged on the Texans twice this season, both times after close losses. Really, Bob? Are you that out of touch with your customers?

Your fans would like to know that you care as much as they care. When the guy in charge says things are going along swimmingly, that only minor tweaks are needed, they don't know whether to laugh or cry.

It's not like you are an absentee owner, either. You watch the video. You attend practice. You speak to the team.

When you leave the impression that you like the way things are going, you insult the fans who pour their heart and soul into this team. They seem to hate losing more than you hate losing. They're furious about being a doormat, and they wonder why you're not.

Losses pile up

For them, it has been nine years of the same old stuff. The Texans are 54-87. That's not Matt Schaub's record or Kubiak's record. That's your record, Bob.

The Texans have one winning record and zero playoff appearances, and there's no way of looking at this team and thinking it's on the right track.

Defensively, the Texans are awful. They're awful on special teams, too. They have some respectable offensive numbers, but far too many of those have been compiled after the team fell hopelessly behind.

The Texans don't appear to be a well-coached team, Bob. There doesn't seem to be much imagination in the game plan. Or maybe the coaches are doing all they can with a bunch of mediocre talent.

Regardless, the Texans are playing out the string again, going nowhere. Your coach, Kubiak, says the same stuff week after week, and yet the bottom line never changes much.

Misguided thinking

Now you tell the fans the Texans are on the right track, and maybe you said it because you believe it. Maybe you see your team for what you think it is rather than what it actually is.

Maybe you're convinced Kubiak and general manager Rick Smith will get things figured out and that there's no reason to get mad and start firing people.

You may also think that Reliant Stadium will be sold out forever, that people around here love football so much they'll never stop buying all the tickets. You could be right about that, Bob. People around here do love football, and they really want to love the Texans.

Right now, they're looking for a reason to believe. They're having a tough time finding one, and you're not helping things, Bob.